NFL: 49ers' Alex Smith 'much better' after concussion

: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith slowly gets up after being hit during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. In the background is San Francisco 49ers tackle Anthony Davis. Smith later left the game. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SANTA CLARA -- Quarterback Alex Smith is recovering well from a concussion that knocked him out of the 49ers' 24-24 tie with the St. Louis Rams, according to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.

Smith's status remains uncertain for next Monday night's home game between the 49ers (6-2-1) and visiting Chicago Bears (7-2).

Following the league's recently enhanced protocol for concussions, Smith was scheduled to visit an independent neurologist Monday afternoon to compare his baseline measures against an offseason exam.

"He's doing much better, had a good night sleep and his symptoms were positive today," Harbaugh said Monday.

Smith reported having blurred vision after a second-quarter touchdown drive Sunday. Although he experienced a couple hard hits earlier during the series, Smith told team officials the damaging blow came on his fourth-and-1 conversion dive to the Rams' 47-yard line with 11:28 until halftime.

"He had no symptoms after that hit. He was cleared to play," said Harbaugh, noting that 49ers doctors were observing Smith throughout the series and were "very proactive."

Smith remained in the game for six more snaps, culminating with a third-and-7 pass to Michael Crabtree for a 14-yard touchdown reception.

"He felt it would go away," Harbaugh said of Smith's vision issues. "He came to the sideline, sat down, felt it would go away and it didn't."

Rather than speculate how many more practice reps Colin Kaepernick might take this week than usual, Harbaugh preferred to see how Smith progressed through the concussion protocol.

Smith's last documented concussion came in last season's home opener against the Dallas Cowboys, and he didn't miss the ensuing game. He has started the 49ers' past 28 games, including the 2010 finale and last season's two playoff games.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler also is recovering from a second-quarter concussion that knocked him from their 13-6 home loss to the Houston Texans. Former Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell went 11 of 19 for 94 yards after halftime in relief of Cutler.

Harbaugh said he experienced "some" concussions during his 15 seasons as an NFL quarterback. Harbaugh played his first seven seasons for the Bears after they selected him in the first round of the 1987 draft out of Michigan. He was 35-30 as a Bears starter.

Regarding Monday's playoff-impacting matchup, Harbaugh said: "The football world will be watching this one. I feel our team will respond well. We did last game, with a lot of fight and no quit by anyone."

Aside from Smith's concussion, Harbaugh said the 49ers did not sustain serious injuries. Left guard Mike Iupati (left knee) and linebacker Aldon Smith (left hand/wrist) briefly left Sunday's game before returning. Running back Frank Gore underwent postgame X-rays on an unspecified injury, CSN Bay Area reported.

With No. 3 quarterback Scott Tolzien inactive, wide receiver Kyle Williams would have been the 49ers' emergency quarterback if both Smith and Kaepernick had been unavailable to play, Harbaugh said.

David Akers ranks 32nd with a .714 field-goal percentage. His latest miss was a 41-yard attempt in overtime, making him 15 of 21 this season. He converted his first six attempts this season.

Akers set league records last season by making 44 of 52 attempts. Harbaugh said he cannot "pinpoint" a reason for Akers' lack of consistency and does not believe Akers has a confidence issue.

The 49ers haven't allowed more than 26 points in a game this season, which they would have done had the Rams kicked a winning field goal in overtime.